Leer for annealing glassware



July 18, 1933. LUFKlN 1,919,167

LEER FOR ANNEALING GLASSWARE Filed Aug. 26, 1950 Patented July 18, 1933 UNITED STATES I PATENT OFFICE Gamma LUIKIN, or r0La-no,- onro, nssronoa ro owns-rumors GLASS COMPANY,

A CORPORATION OF OHIO \LIIB FOB ANNEALING GLABSWARE Application fled August 28, 1880. Serial No. 477,868.

The present invention relates to improvements in leers for annealing glassware and particularly to that type in which the articles of glassware to be annealed are carried through an elongated tunnel or chamber wherein the temperature decreases gradually in a predetermined manner from the receiving end to the delivery end.

11 operating leers of the above type, articles of glassware are placed in the receiving end of the tunnel or chamber where the temperature may be approximately 1000 F., and subjected to a reheating process by which strains and stresses are removed from the glass structure. From the receiving end to the delivery end the temperature gradually drops so that the articles of glassware moving therethrough are uniformly cooled internally and externally with the result that upon reaching atmospheric tem erature the articles are substantially free rom-strams and stresses. The cooling of the articles of glassware down to a predetermined temperature (approximatel 500 to 600 F must be comparatively s ow. Beyond th1s point the articles may be cooled as rapidly 'as possible without any detrimental effects on the quality of the lass. I

An object o the present invention 1s the provision of novel means for cooling portions of the leer tunnel for the urpose of accelerating cooling of the articles of glassware therein so that they may be handle without 4 difiiculty by the operators.

Another object is the provision of cooling means embodying apparatus for causing flow of cooling medium in regulable uantities over variable exterior areas of a wal or walls of a leer'tunnel. To this end the cooling section of the tunnel includes an uninsulated metal roof upon which is arranged a longitudinal series of open ended flues extending transversely of said roof. With these flues is associated means for drawing regulable quantities of cool outside air or the like into the ends thereof for the purpose of cooling the roof and by conduction removing heat from within the leer tunnel or chamber. Thus the temperature within the tunnel'may be controlled.

Other objects will be in part apparent and .in part pointed out hereinafter.

. the leer.

substantially along the line II IIII of Fig. 2. V

, The leer in conjunction with'which my invention is illustrated, is of conventional form and comprises a tunnel 5 or annealing chamber mounted on a wheeled frame 6. tunnel comprises side walls 7 and a roof 8 formed of sheet metal. Certain areas, par ticularly in the vicinity of the receiving end, are suitably insulated by slabs 9 of insulating material. The remaining areas, including sides and top, may be and preferably are uninsulated to increase dissipation of heat. A leer conveyor 10 extends through the tunnel 5 for the purpose of carrying articles of glassware through the various heating and cooling zones, the article supporting reach being arranged in the lower area of the tunnel. The leer may be heated by electrical heating elements 11 or other devices arranged in proximity to the receiving end of the leer.

rticles of glassware placed upon the leer conveyor 10 are slowly transported throu h the leer tunnel from the receiving end to the delivery end D. During passage through the leer the articles of glassware are heated to remove strains and stresses in the glass structure and then are allowed to cool gradually until they reach a predetermined temperature, beyond which the cooling may be effected as rapidly as possible. For the purpose of accelerating cooling of the ware and creating in the cooling zone C the desired temperature gradient, there is provided in the present invention, means for causing impingement of regulable quantities of cooling air or the like upon variable areas of the leer roof 8. For th1s purpose the metal roof- 8 in the cooling zone is uninsulated and rovided with flues or conduits 12, one wal of which is formed by the metal roof 8. These flues or conduits are arranged side by side and extend transversely of the leer roof 8 terminating substantially at the side edges oi the roof plate. A header or suction pipe 13 is arranged above the series of flues 12 and The leer extenils lengthwise along the center line of V Pipe connections 14 individual to the fiues 12 are provided between the latter and said header pipe, each of said fiues being equipped with a manually operable damper 15. Preferably, the pipe connections 14 provide communication between header pipe 13 and the central portions of the flues. A suction fan 16 is suitably connected to one. end of the header pipe 13 for the purpose of exhausting air from the header pipe 13 and connections 14 so that outside air will be drawn into the open ends of the fiues 12. Thus the metal roof plate 8 comprising the roof of the cooling zone (3,is cooledand conducts heat from the leer tunnel-.to the flues from which suction removes it to the atmosphere by way of the header pipe 13.

' In operating the cooling means, the dampers 15 are adjusted to regulate and control the efl'ectiveness of the suction in the series I of pipe connections 14 so that air in variable quantities enters the open ends of the fiues 12. By providing dampers individual to thepipe connections it is evident that almost any outside air or other cooling medium is drawn into the open ends of the fiues and thence through-the pipe connections 14 to the header I or suction pipe 13 and by way of the fan to the atmosphere. During movement of the outside air through the fines it impinges upon the metal roof plate 8 and tends to cool the latter. Due to the temperature difierential created the roof plate conducts heat from withintheleertunnelto the interior of the fiues, such conducted heat being then drawn ofiby the apparatus illustrated. v "Modifications maybe resorted to within the spirit'and scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is 1-. A. glassware annealing leer comprising an elongated tunnel having an u'ninsulated metallic wall, means including portions of said wall providing a series of open ended flues, said flues extending transversely of the tunnel, means for drawing a cooling medium into said fluesthrough the open ends thereof to control the temperature in the tunnel, and

adjustable means for varying the effectiveness of the flues.

2. A glassware annealing leer comprising an elopgated tunnel having an nninsulated metallic wall, means including portions of said wall providing a series of open ended.

flues, said flues extending transversely of the tunnel, a header pipe, connections individual to the flues providing communication between the central portions of the latter and "said header pipe, and means for applying suction to the header pipe and connections and thenceto said flues.

3. A glassware annealing leer comprising an elongated tunnel having an uninsulated metallic wall, means including portions of said well providing a series of open ended fiues, said flues extending transversely of the tunnel, a header pipe, connections individual to the fiues providing communication between the central portions of the latter and said header pipe, means for applying suction to the header pipe and connections and thence to said flues, and dampers individual to the connections.

4. A glassware annealingleer comprising a tunnel including side and top walls, and means including flues extending transversely of the tunnel for directing cooling medium over the outer surface of one of the walls, said flues having open ends providing direct communication between the interior of the fines and the atmosphere.

5. A glassware annealing leer comprising a tunnel having a metallic roof, a portionof which is uninsulated, a longitudinal series of flues arranged on the outer surface of the roof and extending transversely of the leer, said flues having inlet openings attheir ends and an outlet opening centrally located between said ends,-a suction pipe over the series of fines, connections individual to the fines providing communlcatlon between the outlet openings and suction pipe, and means for applying suction to the pipe, connections and flues.

6. A glassware annealing leer comprising a tunnel having ametallic roof, a portion of which is uninsulated, a longitudinal series of fiues arranged on the outer surface of the roof and extending transversely of the leer, said.

flues having inlet openings at their ends and an outlet opening centrally located between said ends, a suction pipe over the seriesof flues, connections individual to the fines providing communication between the outlet openings and suction pipe, means for applying suction to the pipe, connections and flues,

and adjustable dampers individual to the flues.

andmeans employing suction for applying a cooling medium to the outer surface of said -wall, said means including a series of open 7. A glassware annealing leer comprising a tunnel having an uninsulated metallic wall, 

